The latest issue of the Platte County Historical Society (Nebraska) newsletter features an article about the UP’s M-10000 stop in Columbus, NE on March 1, 1934.
Leaving Omaha at 8:00 AM, the new M-10000 arrived in Columbus at 9:30 AM to pick up Capt. Luther North of the Pawnee Scouts for a speaking engagement at the Union Pacific Old Timer’s club. Schools were dismissed so the students could witness the event.
After turning around on the “Y” west of town, the M-10000 left Columbus at 9:45 AM and arrived in Omaha at 11:00 AM. The train averaged 60 mph on the return trip and a speed of 103 mph was reached between North Bend and Ames, NE. Capt. North commented on the smooth ride and “one didn’t get the sensation of such terrific speed”.
The M-10000 stopped in Columbus the next day to drop off Capt. North, then continued west on its 42-day tour.
A photo in the society’s archives shows the west-facing streamliner stopped at the UP depot in downtown Columbus surrounded by people.
UP Pres. Carl Gray said that the new train has re-injected romance into railroading and “it is not the end of the steam locomotive. There will always be a place for that, even in transcontinental service. The new train will be supplemental.”
So the reason the UP has the best steam program going is to keep Carl's word?
I never got to see the M-10000 but I lived close to the IC's mainline just south of Chicago and saw its contemporary, the Green Diamond, almost daily. Looking back I realize both trains were pretty ugly but were considered marvels at the time.
Mark
The trouble was to try to make a train look like an airplane or an automobile. With the EA (B&O), and TA (RI), they did "get it right." Unless you like the earlier "shovel-nose" Zephyrs. They are OK for me but the Electroliner does it better. Too bad the IT didn't copoy that design.
The shovel-nose on the Electroliners is not that different from ITC's streamliners or some of Southern's motor trains or ACL 2027-2028. The carbodies are all products of St. Louis Car Co.
No's. 2027 & 2028 were Seaboard ,not ACL, units built by St. Louis Car Co. The Southern had 6 similar StL Car units four of which powered their name trains; Vulcan, Cracker, Joe Wheeler and Goldenrod.
ACF Motorailers had similar shovel noses. Several roads ran these units including SAL (no's. 2024-2026), C&EI (no's. 245 & 342), O&W (no. 305), Missouri & North Arkansas ( no's. 705 & 726), IC (no's. 130 &131) and MP (no. 670).
SAL's 2027 and 2028 were powered by EMD, while the Southern units were powered by FM. Otherwise, they were very similar.
They and the ACF cars have always looked more like interurbans than doodlebugs to me.
Not very different, but enough different that somehow they lookrd better proportioned and more refined.
KCSfan I never got to see the M-10000 but I lived close to the IC's mainline just south of Chicago and saw its contemporary, the Green Diamond, almost daily. Looking back I realize both trains were pretty ugly but were considered marvels at the time. Mark
Oh wow, you've actually seen the "Green Diamond". the old "Tomato Worm", my and Lady Firestorms favorite ugly diesel? Tell me, was it as ugly in real life as it looks in the photographs?
I wish Lionel or MTH would come out with an O Gauge version, it's so ugly it's classic!
Firelock76 KCSfan I never got to see the M-10000 but I lived close to the IC's mainline just south of Chicago and saw its contemporary, the Green Diamond, almost daily. Looking back I realize both trains were pretty ugly but were considered marvels at the time. Mark Oh wow, you've actually seen the "Green Diamond". the old "Tomato Worm", my and Lady Firestorms favorite ugly diesel? Tell me, was it as ugly in real life as it looks in the photographs? I wish Lionel or MTH would come out with an O Gauge version, it's so ugly it's classic!
The photos needed to be in color to appreciate just how ugly the GD was but we didn't think so in its early years. It was only when later generations of streamliners were introduced that the ugliness of the Tomato Worm became evident.
Thanks Mark, alway great to hear and get insights from someone who was there!
All I've got are the books and what they tell me.
Wayne
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